And franz



(No Mode-1.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. 81; F. G. A. SGHULZE-BERGE.

AIR PUMP.

Patented May 27, 1890.

I wmisssss (No Model.) 3 Sheets Sheet 2. H. 85 F. G. A. SCHULZE-BERGEAIR PUMP.

No. 428,638. Patented May 27, 1890.

INVENTOR 2 9. W.

WITNESSES THE Nam-us PEYEfiS ca, mute-mug, WASHINGYUN, n. c

' (No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. & F. G. A. SOI-IU-LZE-BERGE.

AIR PUMP.

No. 428,638. Patented May 27, 1890.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HERMANN SCHULZE-BERGE, OF ROCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, AND FRANZ c. A.SOHULZE-BERGE, or BROOKLYN, EW YORK.

AIR-PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,638, dated May 27,1890. Application filed December 30, 1889. Serial No. 335,466- (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERMANN SOHULZE- BERGE, of Rochester, Pennsylvania,and FRANZ G. A. SOI-IULZE-BERGE, of Brooklyn,

5 New York, citizens of the Empire of Germany, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Air-Pumps, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention consists in the combination of a rotary air-pump with avalve formed by a liquid seal, and is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which' Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section.Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line I 5 II II of Fig. 1. Figs. 3'to 6 show in detail different parts of the apparatus. The figures onSheet 2 illustrate a modification of the apparatus. Fig. 7 is anelevation thereof partly in section. Fig.8 is a vertical section 20 onthe line VIII VIII of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an elevation similar to Fig. 7,showing the parts in two positions, each different from that illustratedin Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is an enlarged View of the pipes 18 19 and theflexible joints 17 and 20, the pipe 18 and joint 20 being shown inlongitudinal section. The figures on Sheet 3 illustrate anothermodification of the apparatus. Fig. 11 is a side elevation partly insection. Figs. 12 and 13 show details of Fig. 11.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

In Fig. 1 the annular tube 1 is the rotary vessel of the pump, mountedupon a frame 3 5 and revoluble around the axle 2. The shape of the end 3of this tube, as shown in Fig. 3, is somewhat contracted, bending firstinwardly, then outwardly, and ending in the horizontal part 4. (Shown inFig. 4.) This horizontal part is some inches long, and is vertical tothe plane of the annular vessel 1. A block 5, of wood, hard rubber, orother suitable material, fastened to the frame of the pump, isillustrated in section in Fig. 4. The open space at 6 embraces theabove-mentioned end of the tube 1. A channel 7 is bored into this block,ending in the short tubes 8 and 9. The otherhorizontalpart4 of the endof the annular tube 1 passes through the wall of this channel, as shownin Fig. 4, and ends concentrically with the opening of the tube 8. Totheother end 3' of the annular tube 1, Fig. 1, a tube 10 is attached.(Shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6.) The lower partof tube 10 isbent horizontally, as in Fig. 5, and in cross- 5 5- section at 11 inFigs. 1 and 2. The upper part of tube 10 leads to a glass bulb 12, andthrough the opposite end of this bulb passes the tube 13, whichterminates in an open end at 14. The other end of the tube 13 leads tothe interior of the axle 2 of the pump, which axle is hollow and isclosed at the front end, as shown in Fig.2. The opposite end of the axleis open and is connected by an air-tight stuffing-box 2 to a stationaryhorizontal tube, to which may be attached the vessel '4 to be exhausted.A tube 15, Figs. 1 and 4, is connected by a flexible and air-tight joint16 to the end 4 of the annular tube 1. A Wider tube 18 is similarlyconnected by a flexible joint 17 to the tube 8, so that the. tube 15passes down in the interior of the tube 18. Another tube 19, Fig. 5, isconnected by a flexible joint 20 to the horizontal end 11 of the tube10. The lower ends of the tubes 18 and 19 are connected by a flexibletube .21,

Fig. 1. The tube 15 is preferably made about as long as the directdistance between the ends 3 and 3 of the tube 1 and the additionallength of the height of a barometric column of mercury, while the tubes18 and 19 are somewhat longer than the tube 15. A tube '22 forms aprolongation of the tube 9, Figs.

1 and 4, and is open at the upper end.

. The flexible joints mentioned above may be formed by rubber tubes, thestrength of which can be increased by wire spirals placed inside orembedded in the material of the tube. Any other flexible and air-tightmaterial may, however, be employed instead of 0 rubber.

WVhen the interior of the apparatus is open to atmospheric pressure, aquantity of mercury is introduced, suflicient tofill the channel formedby the tubes 18, 21, and 19 and a 5 certain part of the annular tube 1.

It will be readily understood how the device attached to the ends of theannular tube will act as a perfect air-valve, allowing the air exhaustedto escape into the open atmos- IOO phere and preventing any return orregress of the same.

Let the open end of the axle be connected with a vessel 4: to beexhausted, Fig. 2, and then let the apparatus be rotated in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 1. The mercury will proceed in theopposite direction in the tube 1, and when the end 3 of the tube 1 israised to a certain vertical height a partial vacuum there will beformed, and the air will expand from the vessel to be exhausted into thetube 1. At the same time the pressure of the air contained between theend 3 and the mercurylevel 23 is increased and causes the mercury in thetube 15 to sink to the lower eml oi": this tube, when the air will findits way into the tube 18, and will escape through the mercury of thistube to the tube 22, and thence to the open atmosphere. The pressurewhich is necessary to drive the air out of the lower end of the tube 15mustbe counterbalanced by the column of mercury contained in the tube 1,and the sweep and width of this tube, as well as the quantity of mercurycontained therein, must be selected suitably for the purpose. It may beremarked that less pressure is required to drive the air out of the tube15, as described, it this tube be brought into an inclined position, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, than when it keeps the vertical position. By further rotating the apparatus in the same direction themercury will pass through the tubes 15, 18, 21, and 19 and begin anewturn of its circulation, by which means the air exhausted during thefirst turn will be removed through the tube 15 and another quantity ofair will be drawn from the axle ot' the pump. During each revolution ofthe pump the valve itself undergoes a turning or dangling motion, sincein the condition shown in Fig. 1 the tube 18 is at the left and the tube19 at the right, while, as is easily understood, after half a revolutionthe tube 18 will be at the right and the tube 1.) at the left. Thismotion goes on without dit ficulty on account of the flexibility of thejoints 1U, 17, and 20. Any mercury which might during the rotation ofthe apparatus run over from the tube 19 while the prolongation 10 ofthis tube is in a dowinvardlyinclined position will be gathered in thebulb 12, and will run back therefrom when the tube 10 approaches againits initial position. After each rotation of the pump the pressure ofthe vacuum in its interior has decreased, a certain amount, and since atthe same time the full pressure of the atmosphere acts upon the level ofthe mercury contained in the tube 18 this level will be depressed; butif the length of the tube 15 be properly chosen the said level can neverreach the lower end of the tube 15, and then itis evident that outsideair can never find its way through the liquid seal into the interioroi": the pump while the apparatus is working. The interior volume of thepump-vessel maybe considerably increased it the tube 1 is not shaped asa simple ring, but as a spiral, consisting of a number of eonvolutionssimilar in circumference to the sweep of the ring.

The tubes of the apparatus described may be made of glass, iron, or anysuitable material. The tube 15 must not be too wide in diameter;otherwise the mercury would not be able to press the air down throughthe tube; but the several tubes of this kind may be attached at the sametime to the end 3 ot' the main tube in order to increase the speed ofthe flow of mercury through the valve.

By the valve, as described, both ends of the tube 1 are protected by aliquid seal against any access of outside air. In case the tube 15 beomitted, only the end 3 of the tube 1. would be protected. Still with asuitablychosen quantity of mercury the device would act as a practicalvalve, the air being pressed out of the end of tube 1 directly to theatmosphere. This is represented in Figs. 7 to 10 on Sheet 2 of thedrawings.

By reference to the operations of the airpump described in Fig. 1, theworking of the modification represented in Fi 7 to 10 needs no furtherexplanation.

The apparatus represented in Fig. 11, in which the rotary pump-vessel 1has the shape of a double spiral coil mounted upon an inclined hollowaxle 2 by means of a spider and ribs 25, is similar in operation to theapparatus shown in Fig. 1, but differs therefrom in the respect that theair-valve or vessel containing the liquid seal is rigidly connected withthe pump-vessel. The axle 2, which makes connection with the vessel. tobe exhausted by the air tight stulling box 2, has an inclined position.The degree of; inclination may vary, but is preferably about forty-fivedegrees. The same inclination is given to the vessel of the air-valve 1819, so that the inclination of this vessel remains unaltered during therotation of the apparatus, as indicated by the trap shown in dottedlines, and disconnected from the apparatus in Fig. 11. The length of theshanks of the valve 111 ust be in this case so much greater than in theapparatus represented in Fig. 1 that the vertical difference between theupper end and lower end of this tube resembles the whole length of thecorresponding tubes in Fig. 1, and correspondingly surpasses the lengthof a barometric column of mercury, which isindicated by the verticaldifference in the level marked a. In the same proportion the diameter ofthe sweep of the tube 1 must be increased comparatively with thediameter of the ring in Fig. 1. The air valve or trap is illustratedmore particularly in Figs. 12 and 13.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the tube 10 terminates in the hollow axle2, while the tube 22 is open and leads to the atmosphere. This tube ismade long enough to prevent any mercury from running out. A shunt-tubc2-1 is shown in Fig. 12, which may serve the purpose of increasing thespeed of the flow of IIO mercury from the end 3 to the end 3 of tube 1.While generally closed during the rotation of the apparatus, it. can beopened when the air has been driven out by the liquid-piston through thetube and closed again when the liquid piston has passed through theshunt. This shunt may contain a stop-cock or a-rubber tube adapted to beclosed by a pinch-cock or some equivalent device.

In the valve represented in'Fig. 13 the tube 15 and the shunt 24: aredispensed with. As a consequence of this the outside or atmosphericalair has access to the end 3 of the tube 1, while access of the openatmosphere to the end 3' of the tube 1, connecting with the vessel to beexhausted, (by means of the tube 10 and shaft 2,) is permanentlyprevented by the liquid in the trap and by the liquid-piston travelingin the spiral 1 in the opposite direction to the arrows, which indicatethe rotation of the air-pump.

In Fig. 11 the air valve or trap is joined to the ends 3 and 3 of thedouble spiral coil at the lower end of the coilthat is, in directiontoward the driving-gear; but it is evident that such ends 3 and 3 of thespiral coil can be located at the upper end of the coil toward thestuffingbox 2. In the latter case the valve or air-trap may be locatedwithin the drum or space formed by thespiral coil around the shaft 2,thus decreasing the height of the apparatus.

If other liquids be employed instead of mercury in the apparatusdescribed, the dimensions of the apparatus can be selected according tothe specific gravity of the liquid used.

We claim- 1. The combination, with a rotary mercurial air pump revolublein bearings, of an airvalve consisting of a trap or vessel containing aliquid seal, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a rotary air-pump, the combination, with a rotarycu-rved tube, ofa trap containing a liquid seal connecting the ends of the tube, a pipe15, extending from one end of the tube into said trap, and an exhaustopening or pipe 22, leading to the atmosphere, the other end of the tubebeing adapted to be connected with the vessel to be exhausted,substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, with a rotary mercurial air-pump formed of acircular or spiral tubular vessel revoluble in bearings, of an air valveconsisting of a trap containing a liquid seal, said vessel being normalto its axis of rotation, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

4. In a rotary airpump, the combination of a tubular vessel containing aliquid-piston with an inclined axle or shaft revoluble in stationarybearings and an air-valve consisting of a trap containing a liquid sealand connecting the ends of the tubular vessel, substantially as and forthe purposes described. In testimony that we claim the foregoing as ourinvention we have signed our names, in presence of two witnesses, this2d day of September, 1889.

HERMANN SCHUIiZll-BERGE. FRANZ G. A. SCHULZE-BERGE.

' Witnesses:

WM. SVVANSBORO, J osEPH WATERS.

